Summer Newsletter 2024
Dear Surfers, Parents, Carers and members of our community,
As the summer season returns, we would like to share some important updates and changes with you. We would firstly like to thank you for all your support over the winter. It has been a long chilly winter with many, many storms! We would not be able to go into the summer so strong and secure without your support on the beach, in the skate park and at our fundraiser.
Fundraiser
Back in February we hosted a Race Night in Clyne Golf Club with Gower Lions. We were incredibly lucky to partner with and be supported by local business such as Gower Coffee, Jacob Cottage, Carmel Pottery, Caswell Saunas & Gower Brewery. We had a wonderful turn out and with extra raffle tickets being bought remotely! Thanks for everyone, we managed to raise over £1200! This has allowed us to discount sessions for families who have felt the crunch of the cost-of-living crisis. We are incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful community who support us.
We are hoping to host a few more fundraisers this winter, if you have any ideas or would like to be involved – let us know!
Volunteer Hunt
Summer 2024 we are predicting to have our busiest summer yet (providing the weather holds out)! Due to this we are hunting for more regular volunteers than ever. We rely heavily on our volunteer support here at Surfability, without them we would not be where we are today. We are after volunteers in all aspects of Surfability, whether that be in the water, in the centre or are a keen photographer – we would love to hear from you!
We require help for all sessions, our big event bookings all the way to our weekly groups.
If you know of anyone who would be able to help us or even fancy helping yourself, please join our Facebook page Surfability Volunteers or speak to Non to see how you can help.
Upcoming Events
Not only are we super busy with bookings, but we have also got a multitude of events happening this year!
English Para Surfing Open
For the fourth year, the English Adaptive Surf Open is returning to The Wave in Bristol. This year, there will be 9 ISA Para Surfing divisions as well as 3 Open Divisions (for UK based surfers with no classification). Many members of the Surfability Team will be travelling up to Bristol to volunteer their time providing water safety.
We would love to see your faces at the Wave, cheering on Team Wales. If you are unable to make it up to Bristol, it will also be live streamed on YouTube!
Limb Difference Day
On August 3rd & 4th, we will be hosting our second Limb Difference Weekend in partnership with Limb Power. Last year’s event was incredibly successful with so many smiling faces, we are delighted to bring it back and with our over 18s day being fully sponsored by Gower Brewery! If you know of anyone who would like to take part or if you would like volunteer on the day, please reach out to Non and she can point you in the right direction!
Visually Impaired Weekend
On the back of the success of the Limb Difference weekend, we are partnering with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to provide a taster day for visually impaired people. We are excited and proud to be offering this weekend on the 21st and 22nd September. At this moment, we are still looking for potential sponsors and volunteers both land and water based. If you know of anyone who may wish to take part in this weekend, please put them in contact with Non!
Community Bookings
This year we have more community group bookings than ever. We are so extremely grateful for our Surfability community for sharing our work and connecting us with these wonderful people. This year we have the pleasure of working with Barnardo’s, Mixtup, POPSY, Whizz Kidz, Friends Rewild Play, MS Society, Reach, Cynon Valley Pals and so many more. If you are part of any of these communities and are yet to sign up to surfing, then what are you waiting for! Alternatively, if you are part of a group that you know would like to join us next summer, please get in touch and we can make it happen.
Sponsorships
We would like to thank our 2024 volunteers as what we do would not be possible. It is important to us that we collaborate with companies that align with our values.
Some of our sponsors this year include.
Delsion
At Delsion they are “Positive about Potential”.
They help organisations to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and realise that the benefits this will bring to both the individuals and the organisation.
They take a leading-edge approach to diversity & inclusion to put it at the heart of your organisation. From defining the business case, setting the leadership agenda, setting KPI’s, audits, policies, and training.
Gower Coffee
Gower Coffee is all about slowing down, whilst savouring the tasty blends that echo the landscape and surf breaks around us.
“Our blends are named after our favourite surf breaks, they remind of us of walks on coastal paths, taking in the salt air and admiring the sunrise surf. Our coffee aims to bring you that slow-morning-good-conversation-breathtaking beach-feel in a mug. Grown from our roots in the Kardomah, we know how important people and places are, we hope you enjoy.”
Gower Brewery
We have been brewing ales of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of Gower, Wales since 2011. Each handcrafted brew inspired by the wonder of hazy morning mist over the estuary, sea-kissed sand-filled vistas, clean surf, and miles of rugged coastlines. As the Gower Peninsula was named the first area of outstanding natural beauty in the UK, we continually brew quality beers that echo the magnificence of the landscape around us. As a multi-award-winning brewery, that is our heritage. Ours is the spirit of adventure, of taking it slowly and easily, of inhaling fresh coastal air. Ales of outstanding natural beauty, always best enjoyed with a good view.
Weleda
We believe in nature’s ability to help you feel healthy, balanced, and beautiful. Our products are thoughtfully crafted to harness the vitality of nature and work in harmony with your body’s own restorative abilities. We are committed to building farming partnerships that honour the human spirit and respect the natural world. Anthroposophy explores connections. At Weleda, our understanding of the harmonious connection between people and plants enables us to develop better natural products.
Anthroposophic medicine takes a holistic view of the human being and promotes a healthy balance between body, mind, and spirit.
Thank you all SO much for all your support!
Team Surfability x
UK Winter Wildlife- The Turnstone
Following the migration of many of our British summer birds, the team at Surfability have been turning our eye to those remaining on our beach for winter.
As the violent winter storms continue to draw in, the sight of seaweed lined beaches is on the rise. While this may not be a cause for celebration for everyone, the arrival of the slimy sea stuff does promise an appearance from a lovely local bird- the Turnstone.
Bright eyed and nimble, Turnstones have a powerful beak and neck perfect for turning stones, shells and seaweed alike. Identifiable by their brown, black and white feather and bright orange legs, Turnstones can be spotted along the shoreline as they unearth a buffet of insects, crustaceans and molluscs.
Distinguished by their darker coloured feathers in winter, these inquisitive and busy little birds display bright feathers and red legs in their mating season. As monogamous mates, these sociable birds take turns to sit on their olive colour eggs.
But if you’re thinking that Turnstones are all about cooperatio
n and love, you might be surprised to learn that Turnstones generally don’t like to share! In fact, Turnstones have been known to chase other birds for up to 160km to save their dinner and roost!
If you’d like to see a Turnstone for yourself, it’s time to schedule that trip to the beach. And why not book yourself a surf while you’re at it? The team at Surfability are here to make sure there’s a wave for everyone…
ISA Adaptive Instructor Couse Review
“Overall this was a great course that showed me a side of surfing that I had not considered before. I would absolutely recommend this course to any surf instructors, as the lessons learned can be applied to more than just adaptive surfing.” – James
Seeking Saltwater – the Elephant Seal
Whether you’re a binocular carrying nature buff, or you spot nature’s treats in mindful moments outback, surf trips are always a great way to experience local wildlife. This was certainly the case for the team here at Surfability during their trip to the ISA Adaptive World Championships in December.
Continue reading
Surfability Seal Rescue
A few weeks ago, whilst working in the Canthed Centre at Caswell, Ben found a seal pup on the beach. It was amazingly well camouflaged in the stones, with most people walking on the beach completely unaware it was even there.
Awesome Photography by Celf Calon
Thanks to Betsan from Celf Calon photography, we are spoilt for choice when choosing gorgeous photos to use on our website and social media channels. You’ll also find Betsan’s beautiful photos all over the walls of our new centre at Caswell.
Continue reading
2020 English Adaptive Surfing Open
The 2020 English Adaptive Surfing Open took place on October 3rd at The Wave, Bristol. We were stoked to have four athletes representing Wales: Ethan Jolosa, Katie Richards, Llywelyn Sponge Williams, and Isaac Heaher. We headed up to support them, as well as run the water safety for the event.
Continue reading
Penguin Recruitment Charity Quiz
The team here at Surfability UK CIC are delighted to announce the return of the annual Penguin Recruitment Charity Quiz. After the huge success of last years quiz which raised funds for rehabilitation and surf therapy for people with acquired brain injuries, this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better! Set to be hosted in a tent in the Mumbles very own Castle Fields, the evening assures an animated atmosphere with a quiz lively enough to test even your biggest trivia buff.
The Sea in Spring
With beautiful spring blooms, tree boughs bursting with blossom and baby lambs bouncing all around us, the joys of spring have well and truly arrived on land.
Meanwhile though, let’s not forget that a spring time flurry is also unfolding under the sea.
Caswell Disability Changing Place
Caswell Bay is not only the proud home of Surfability UK CIC, the UK’s first fully inclusive and adaptive surf school, it is soon to be the first Gower beach to have a disability changing place. And the team here at Surfability UK CIC HQ could not be more delighted about this news.